All posts filed under: Favorite Things

New Loves: 2016

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Hey everyone, I’m alive. I just wanted to take a bit of time to write about some (admittedly kind of boring, but still amazing) things that I’ve been enjoying during the year so far. To be honest, I haven’t been that adventurous with makeup in a while. I’ve been working part-time and I usually have to throw on a quick lewk before dashing out the door. In any case, what I’ve got here are just essentials, really, to my routine lately. I tried to pick the items I haven’t really spoken about at length here before. Just a disclaimer: most of this post is made up of items that are gifted by friends and family or sent by PR teams, as that’s the only time I’ve been able to really test new stuff out. I’ve cut down on my spending (on makeup, at least) a lot as I’m saving up for trips later on in the year. Lucas’ Pawpaw Ointment One of my mom’s brothers has been based in Australia for a while with his …

Sulfate-Free Shampoo

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I know it’s not the most exciting topic, but I think I’ve spoken about scalp problems before, and to be honest, the only thing that really helped me get rid of them were sulfate-free shampoos. I used to not really pay much attention to hair products, as long as I liked how they smelled, but when I started getting really itchy build-up with worrisome patches of dry, flaky skin, I started to take notice. My first step was to ditch conditioner, just to eliminate the number of products (and therefore, lessen the build-up) I used in my hair. My hair suffered a little, but my main concern was really to get rid of my scalp issues. My next step was to go more natural and pay attention to ingredients. I chose to eliminate SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate, as it’s a common ingredient that has been known to cause some problems for a lot of people. As it turns out, seeking out sulfate-free shampoos was the right step for me. Although I still have occasional …

Updated Skin Care Routine, December 2015

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Okay, I’m about to look like a crazy, and honestly, you don’t need this much shit in your life, probably. I started getting into skin care when I started getting into makeup. My skin wasn’t doing worse necessarily, but I was made more acutely aware of what my skin type was and what it needed. I’ve mainly had pretty good skin for most of my life. I had like a disgusting rash on my cheek in grade 5, but other than that, no acne or very much breakouts except for hormonal ones like when I get my period. My skin got a little more high maintenance as I grew older, though. I honestly used to just let the water run down my face in the shower (lol), didn’t even use soap or any kind of moisturizer. But I think that wearing makeup and probably the stress of like adult life or whatever took a toll. I can’t really say for sure. All I know is that I want to take care of my skin, and …

Softly Sometimes and the Holy Grail: October 2015 Update

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It’s been a while since my last Holy Grail post (July 2013). Although the point of a Holy Grail list is finding the best products for you—which means there shouldn’t be another Holy Grail list—I think I’ve found and whittled down my own list to reflect my very best finds. There are some categories that lack a product, but that just means that I a) like to play around when it comes to that part of my makeup, b) don’t wear it all that much (e.g. mascara), c) have many favorites, but no ULTIMATE. About Base Primer — always and forever the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. I’ve tried a shit ton and while I enjoy them all, this is my favorite, go-to, most reliable one. Bases — for foundation, my favorite is the Ellis Faas Skin Veil* which I have in S104L. I think it makes me skin look great, but I rarely wear it to the office because I prefer a lighter base for stress-heavy days. That’s where the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint comes …

My Personal (Predictable) Lip Picks Lately

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I’ve been taking a break from many things recently, and it seems that includes fun lip colors. I’m trying to get back in the mood for my corals, purples, what have you, but I figured I’d show you what I’ve usually been reaching for lately (save for the vamps, which I occasionally reach for but never as a fail-safe option). I know they all look like the same damn thing, and as a dutiful beauty nut, I’m taking it upon myself to tell you that they’re different! Ahem. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama — I love this shade! Except I realized recently that it has a bunch of v. fine shimmer that gets more and more obvious the more you load it on. So, um. Don’t. Anyway, I love this; it’s a bit of a 90s lip, IMO. NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Tonkin — I know this as Bea’s favorite NPML (or ever?) shade. It’s very neutral, a sorta pinky-brown that’s pretty perfect for everyday use. MAC Lustre Lipstick in Jubilee — …

Main May Fave: LMdB Sexy Eye Palette

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I just wanted to share a few looks from the Le Métier de Beauté Sexy Eye Palette, which I got last month from the BVVIP box. I liked it when I got it but I didn’t predict that I would be using it pretty exclusively for the next month. I think you guys might be able to tell that I haven’t been too active on here, but this palette is what, as children are wont to say these days, “gives me life.” Ha. Anyway, I really like it and it’s making me wear color!

Everyday Face Brushes

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Not that I wear makeup everyday, but you know what I mean. I’ve personally amassed a ridiculous amount of brushes, but having dialed back on the makeup obsession, there are just a few brushes that I regularly use now. Here are the face brushes that I’ve been using as of late. I am thinking about making a “Favorite Brushes” or “Most Useful Brushes” post sometime in the near future. Sigma F86 Tapered Kabuki Brush** This is the newest addition to my arsenal and I freaking love it for liquid bases that need more than finger action to blend out properly. The tapered end makes it easy for you to reach weird nooks on your face, like the space around your nose and all around under your eyes, and other places that need precision. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush This was my weapon of choice for liquid bases, but now I find I use it a lot for cream products like blush and bronzers. It still works great for your regular face base, but it also …